Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Rich Lactose-Free Milk - with many Vegan options

Here are several delicious milk alternatives suitable for just about every diet out there!

My mom has made several kinds of milk alternatives over the years. Some are dairy free and vegan. Some are nut-free. Some are made with homemade seed milks. Some are protein enriched. All of them are sugar-free.

Here is our families favorite, creamy, dairy-like beverage that is lactose-free with lots of vegan options. This basic recipe of hers offers you a lot of versatility. Play with different variations and blends of milks to find what you love best. For example, one great combination is almond and coconut milk. You can either make a sweet or neutral tasting milk, depending on what you plan on using it for.

Warm the lactose-free milk or combination of lactose-free milks to 80 to 100 degrees.
Put half of the warmed milk (2 cups) into a blender.
Add the whey protein powder and coconut milk powder, and blend together.
Add the rest of the milk and blend.
Add the flavoring. (Vanilla and/or almond extract is especially good with coconut milk.)
Add the salt to taste, until the mixture does not taste "flat or watery".
Add stevia glycerite, to taste.
Chill.

You can make this milk rich and sweet enough to be similar to Half & Half.

You may add a little bit of non-GMO lecithin powder to this lactose-free milk, especially when making the vegan versions, particularly with coconut milk - It helps emulsify the fat, and adds wonderful nutrition for the nerves. Lecithin also makes the milk taste even creamier and richer.

Almond extract is the best thing we have found for complimenting the flavor of coconut, in fact going so far as to partially neutralize the coconut taste for people who do not like the taste of coconut milk.

This milk is wonderful used in many ways:
Added to hot cocoa mix
Poured over hot cereal like oatmeal
Used as a base for smoothies
Used as an ice cream base
Chilled for drinking a tall cold glass along with a side of cookies